12.10.2013

Hudson is truly a gift from God, and he is a blessing to me every day.

I have loved watching him perform this year with the Cherub Choir at our church. Last night was his first big performance! The children's Christmas Cantata is always such a special time for the kids, and it is truly a touching experience for all those that watch them!!

Hudson has been practicing the show for weeks! Will and I sat in on one practice, and got a little tickled when Hudson raised his hand and asked his choir director why he didn't get to sing a part in the microphone. He couldn't understand that only the older children were singing solo parts. The rest of that practice he kept inching himself closer and closer to the microphone anyways. Little stinker! After seeing him practice, we couldn't wait to see the product of all his hard work! On the way to the show, he said, "Is my family going to be there to watch me?" He LOVES an audience. :)

The show went so well! We were so happy to see him dressed up as a sweet shepherd boy, and singing "How Far is it to Bethlehem", "Away in the Manger", and "Silent Night". And as you know, most kid's productions have an unexpected touch of comic relief....and this show didn't disappoint. Between one little angel fighting with her wings, and Hudson disrobing at the end of the third song, there were quite a few giggles in the audience.

I am so very proud of this angelic boy of mine.

p.s. thank you so much to my Mom, Dad, Aunt, and Uncle for coming to the church to watch Hudson perform. His little face was glowing when he caught sight of you all in the crowd. Thanks for making him feel SO loved!

12.09.2013

This year I hosted my very first Thanksgiving feast! And what a feast it was! My mom and dad brought delicious turkey and broccoli salad (my favorite!), and I made corn casserole, squash casserole, cranberry sauce, honey balsamic green beans, mashed potatoes with gravy, cornbread dressing, and a salted caramel chocolate pecan pie! Whew! It was a lot of food, but it all turned out so very delicious. After the meal, we watched Alabama lose their biggest rivalry game to Auburn, but it didn't put a damper on our fun day! We had a wonderful time.

This is the first year that we have taken Hudson to a Christmas Tree Farm to pick out a tree. We had a lovely time at Shell Christmas Tree Farm....it was such an experience to trek through the beautiful field of trees. Hudson loved holding the measuring pole, and he had to stop and admire every single "baby tree" that he spotted. We searched and searched for the perfect one for us, and after a while we found it! Our tree is a 10 foot Leland Cypress, and it is so full and pretty. I think we'll definitely go back to the tree farm next year!

Every year, our special "Elf on the Shelf" flies to our front door, all the way from the North Pole. Buddy the elf has a very special job...he watches to make sure Hudson is nice, so that he can report back to Santa! This year buddy brought a little surprise for Hudson: elf jammies! He was so excited. We can't wait to see if Buddy gets into any mischief this holiday season!

12.02.2013

I would be willing to bet, that if you are a parent of a pre-schooler, you've probably heard of Nickelodeon's new television series. But if you haven't been introduced to this particular kid's show, it is a program featuring six heroic rescue puppies and their brave boy Ryder, who help people and animals in their community of Adventure Bay. It debuted back in August, and just this month, Paw Patrol received a 26 episode Season 2 pickup. I have no doubt, that this news will please my little boy. Hudson literally asks to watch this show two or three times a day, and with themes like problem solving, social skills, and helpful behavior, I usually agree to his requests for a bit of TV time. I hear that the next season of Paw Patrol will introduce some new characters, vehicles, and fun gadgets.

Since we aren't always in front of the television during the times that Hudson's favorite show airs live, we find that watching On Demand is especially convenient. Time Warner Cable has an amazing variety of programming available On Demand. We use On Demand when watching Hudson's favorite shows. Not only is Paw Patrol available, but some of his other favorite programs are also just a click away....like Nick Jr.'s Team Umizoomi and Mike the Knight, and Disney Jr.'s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Octonauts. Having access to so many programs is an amazing thing, and not just for kids! There are literally thousands of programs available On Demand, for every member of the family! My husband and I love to catch up on our favorite shows. We love Boardwalk Empire on HBO, The Blacklist on NBC, and The Walking Dead on AMC. And there are so many of our favorite movies available, too. If you don't have On Demand through your cable provider, timewarnercableoffers.com has some great deals right now, with access to On Demand and HD services for no additional fee with Preferred TV services.

And, if you have a little one at home, check out Paw Patrol on Nick Jr. It's a pretty cute show, with a really good message....just what any parent wants from children's programming!